What occurred in Baltimore Monday night was a dreadful social commentary. No valid excuse can be made for the violence, thefts and vandalism.
However, its roots are deep in the past.
Consider: Many of the young black men who took to the streets grew up with next to no family influence, their mothers little more than children themselves and their fathers … well, for many they have no idea who they are.
The more severe cause may lie with society, and a reluctance to be inclusive. And that’s now as well as then.
The average high school student is exposed to the nation’s history, how Europeans came here in fragile sailing ships, established colonies and then won their independence from English rule.
Little mention is made of the multitude of blacks who were shanghaied and forced into a life of slavery to satisfy the whims and greed of plantation owners and industrialists. Little mention is made of black history, with even today February’s celebration mostly a cursory look at blacks and their accomplishments. Few high school students ever are exposed to the rich history of Africa, albeit often tainted by ruthless white rule.
These observations aren’t meant to justify anything that has occurred the past few days, but maybe, just maybe, if more attention had been paid to the plight of blacks and greater emphasis had been placed on education, protests turned ugly wouldn’t have occurred.
Protest itself is a perfectly good way for the aggrieved to express themselves, and never should be abridged, although the outcome in Baltimore, as with sins of the past, certainly make efforts for a better tomorrow difficult.
— Bob Johnson
Why the violence?
